VOA双语新闻:2、华盛顿民间艺术节 弘扬非裔文化(在线收听

 

华盛顿民间艺术节 弘扬非裔文化

One featured attraction at the annual Smithsonian Folklife Festival celebrates the culture in African American neighborhoods of Washington, DC. Many residents have maintained their American traditions along with African cultural roots and they're trying to pass them to younger generations in the form of art and music.

每年一度举办的史密森学会民间艺术节(Smithsonian Folklife Festival)今年的主题之一是“首都华盛顿非洲裔美国人的文化”。很多首都居民保留着他们的美国传统与非洲文化的根源。他们极力把艺术与音乐传给下一代。

One group at the festival performs using song and dance to showcase African traditions that are deeply rooted in Washington's black Southeast neighborhoods.

这些表演者利用音乐与舞蹈,展示出首都华盛顿东南区黑人社区内根深蒂固的非洲传统。

The group is performing "Taratibu," a South African dance that combines military drill movements with African traditions. This kind of cultural expression is front and center at this year's festival.

这个舞蹈团正在表演Taratibu舞,这个来自非洲南部的舞蹈,集合了军事步操与非洲传统。这类的文化展示是今年史密森学会民间艺术节的中心主题。阿莱?斯科特是这个舞蹈团的负责人 。她说,这批表演的青少年正在学习中了解他们的非洲文化根源。

"Taratibu teaches their history and respect for each other, respect for your community and for your elders. And it shows the young people that they have to work as a community and not individually in order for us to make it as African Americans in this country," said Arla Scott, who directs the dance company. She says these teenagers are learning about their roots.

Taratibu青年协会的阿莱?斯科特说:“Taratibu向他们传授历史、教他们互相尊重、尊重社区和长辈,还让这些年轻人懂得,整个社区要团结一致,不要独断独行,才能让非洲裔美国人在美国自立。”

This part of the Folklife Festival celebrates the creativity of African American neighborhoods in the southeast corner of the nation's capital. It highlights the connections among residents and how they pass along traditions through dance, art and music.

史密森学会民间艺术节这个部分的主题,是庆祝美国首都华盛顿东南区的非洲裔美国人社区的创造力。表演展示出居民之间的联系,以及他们如何透过舞蹈、艺术与音乐,将文化历史传给下一代。

African-inspired art, especially murals, dot DC's Southeast neighborhoods. Jay Coleman says he's doing his part to keep neighborhood traditions alive.

受到非洲文化影响的艺术,尤其是墙上壁画,在首都华盛顿东南社区处处可见。艺术家杰伊?科尔曼说,他尽自己所能,帮助社区邻里保留传统。

"A lot of traditions are being passed on and perpetuated through the Southeast community through the churches, through the dance. All of those things that are a part of that community are still rich. It's a resilient community, and I think it deserves to be highlighted because much of what D.C. gets props for, a lot of it was rooted in Southeast," Coleman said.

艺术家杰伊?科尔曼说:“很多传统已经透过东南社区、透过教堂、透过舞蹈代代相传,永久保留。所有已经成为社区活动一部分的文化活动都非常丰富。这个社区很坚韧。我认为他们很值得表扬,因为很多首都华盛顿很大部分有名的文化根源,都来自于东南社区。”

Storytelling is also a rich tradition in African American culture.

讲故事也是非洲裔美国人的丰富文化传统之一。

Through his work, Baba-C teaches black history. "Washington, D.C. was not always a city where people of African decent could move freely without looking over their shoulders, and a lot of us took refuge in Southeast. But Southeast has a rich tradition of overcoming what you have perceived of not having and making it a strength not a weakness," he said.

巴巴C是讲故事能手。他用故事传授黑人历史。他说:“首都华盛顿原本没有这么自由。非洲人后裔不像现在这样无忧无虑地自由行动。当年我们很多人在东南社区找到栖身之所。东南社区给人的印象是一无所有,但它又有穷则思变的优良传统,使它成为优点而不是缺点。”

Rap evolved in African American communities but it's rooted in African chanting. It too was on display.

饶舌歌曲发源于非洲裔美国人社区,但其根源却来自非洲的咏唱。这也是民间艺术节的表演节目之一。

Festival organizers say it's important to celebrate DC's southeast neighborhoods and pass along traditions that shaped the lives of African Americans there.

艺术节主办者说,首都华盛顿东南社区的传统文化很值得庆祝,很值得发扬光大、代代相传。

  原文地址:http://www.tingroom.com/lesson/voabn/2012/07/223489.html